Krishnamoorthi Seeks Answers on Reports China Is Rearming Iran with Air Defense Missiles, Warns U.S. Servicemembers Face Greater Risk

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, today sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe seeking answers about recent public reports that the People's Republic of China is rearming Iran with shoulder-fired air defense missiles. Krishnamoorthi warns that the reported transfer could put American servicemembers at greater risk and appears to contradict Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping's assurances to President Trump that China was not supplying weapons to Iran. 

In the letter, Krishnamoorthi writes:

“I write today as a senior member of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence to voice my great concern over recent public reports that the People's Republic of China (PRC) has sold shoulder-fired air-defense missiles to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Public reports from this week indicate that the PRC signed a deal to ship an initial batch of 300 to 400 man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) to Iran to replenish its degraded air defense systems, putting American servicemembers at risk. I have written to you before regarding the PRC's military support for the Iranian regime, and this news only deepens my concern.”

The letter cites recent public reports that China agreed to transfer Chinese-made QW-12 and FN-16 man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) to Iran through a Hong Kong-based company, potentially replenishing Iran's degraded air defenses. Krishnamoorthi notes that MANPADS are capable of targeting aircraft, helicopters, and low-flying drones, increasing the threat to U.S. forces and security partners in the region. 

Krishnamoorthi continues:

“The Administration must end this needless and destructive war, which is harming the American economy and risking the lives of American servicemembers. The war has caused major damage to the U.S. global reputation and is encouraging our adversaries to cooperate in tandem against us. At the same time, it is essential that the State Department and White House make clear that it is unacceptable for Beijing to provide support that emboldens Iran's repressive regime and enhances its military capabilities.”

Krishnamoorthi requested responses by August 16, 2026, including answers to the following questions:

1. To what extent is the PRC helping Iran rebuild its military capabilities, including through the provision of portable air defense systems, and is there evidence of other confirmed or discussed arms sales from the PRC to Iran? 
2. Has the Administration raised the recent public reports of the PRC's provision of MANPADS to Iran with Chinese counterparts, and does it find Beijing's denial of these public reports credible? 
3. What steps are being taken to protect our servicemembers and military assets from MANPADS and other similar systems in the Iran conflict? 
4. Has there been any indication or confirmation that the PRC is sharing intelligence information with the Iranians to better strike U.S. and/or allied forces in the region? 
5. What is the intelligence community's assessment on whether the agreed MANPADS transfer process has been initiated or is on hold? 
6. What is the intelligence community's ability to track arms moved overland via Pakistan and what is the determination on the extent Pakistani leadership knew of the deal and proposed transfer? 
7. Does the intelligence community believe it has adequate resources to monitor these kinds of threats going forward? 

The letter also requests a classified briefing, if necessary, by September 2, 2026, on the reported MANPADS agreement, PRC military and intelligence support for Iran, and CIA, State Department, and Department of Defense efforts to prevent similar threats to American servicemembers. 

Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s letter is available here.